Zoombak (News - Alert), manufacturer of Assisted Global Positioning System (A-GPS) locators, has announced the availability of its new product, the Universal A-GPS Locator, through Pep Boys outlets around the country. The product has been shipped to 591 Pep Boys locations nationwide, and company officials expect good movement for the product in the back-to-school buying season. 

The Universal A-GPS Locator weighs about 2 1/2 pounds, and can be placed on bicycles or in backpacks and other such objects, which need to be tracked. The company also manufactures specific purpose A-GPS locators, called the A-GPS Car Locator and the A-GPS Pet Locator. The Universal A-GPS Locator can also be used in place of these to track cars and pets.

A-GPS devices use both GPS satellites, as well as an assistance server connected with the device, through the cellular network to ascertain the location of the device. This helps in getting a fix on the location even in places where the satellite signal reception may be poor, such as within buildings or around tall structures.

The Zoombak locators can be tracked by customers through the Internet on zoombak.com, using text messages sent through mobile phones or by calling the Zoombak customer care center. Safety zones can be configured on the Zoombak site, with alerts being generated and sent via email or SMS as chosen, whenever the locator leaves the boundaries of the zone. Zoombak allows for up to 10 such zones to be active at a time for a locator.

Alerts can also be configured to be sent when the device is powered off or when the battery is drained to 25 percent of its capacity. The battery supports up to five days on standby or 150 location requests, before needing to be recharged.

“We are pleased that Pep Boys has chosen the Zoombak Universal A-GPS Locator to expand its in-car electronics offerings, joining our growing list of retail partners who recognize the value of providing customers with innovative solutions,” Simon Buckingham, CEO of Zoombak, said in a statement. “For parents of teen drivers, or any car owner looking for added safety and security, Zoombak provides peace of mind by allowing them to know where their vehicle is in real-time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.”